A faint rustling sound echoed throughout Percivale's head. The tight sensation enforced on his neck began to loosen as well, until he felt nothing was hurting.
His vision eventually returned, just as the cloth bag over his head was lifted over him. In a panic, his eyes shifted all over the room, thoroughly enforcing the idea that he was completely harmless to his captors.
"See? I told you. He's just some kid who got lucky and escaped from Gerrard. There's no way he was able to kill a B rank villain."
Percivale's gaze focused on the man who was explaining. Just like the other person in the room, he was wearing a neat police uniform.
"How will you explain the mana signature, then? We already went through the tests. Not only is the suspect's Affinity the exact same as the ones we found on the scene, even the wavelength is. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that no two magicians have the same fingerprint."
By the looks of it, the two officers were arguing. Percivale dug through the layers of his mind, hoping to recall the past events that led to his capture.
One moment, he was escaping from Gerrard and the next he had been knocked out. Still, with the mention of the Night Wolf's name, it wasn't difficult to guess the topic in question.
In the far end of the room, by the entrance, a female police officer stood against the wall, arms crossed. Her gaze had not once been removed from Percivale, and as such, the moment he woke up, she was the first to notice.
"You two, always arguing." She shook her head. "The suspect has already awoken."
With that, the argument between the two officers came to an abrupt halt. Both of them laid their eyes on the restrained Percivale. His arms had been tied behind the chair he was sitting on, and they were imbued with the Negativity Affinity.
"Good, you're awake." The officer who believed Percivale was the perpetrator behind Gerrard's death spoke up.
"Wh…whe–"
"Where indeed." He interrupted. "You see, the answer to that question depends on yours to mine. Tell me, were you the one behind Gerrard, The Wolverine's death?"
"N-no…"
The moment Percivale replied, the entire room began lighting up. Bright flashes appeared from every corner of the dark room, expelling the shadows and replacing them with a green hue.
"See, I told you. Even you can't argue against the Truth Zone." The guard who believed him innocent piped up. "And even if he was the one to kill him, what are you gonna do? Kill him too? Don't forget, Gerrard had a pretty large bounty on his head."
"Tch, fine." The opposing guard finally relented. He crossed his arms and donned a disappointed look on his face. "I'm going to find who did it, Truth Zone with me or not."
With that, the officer left, leaving Percivale with the one who sided with him and the female officer.
"Sorry about that." The officer apologised, and began unlocking the ropes keeping him tied. "Don't mind Gregory, he just really hates Gerrard. Understandable, given the horrors the criminal committed against him, but still."
"...horrors?" Percivale replied.
"Oh, you don't know? Gregory's the lone survivor of the Grimna Family, the very family who was tasked by Stardale's government with the safekeeping of the Feather Shifter artifact. One day, the Night Wolves raided the Grimna family home, and killed everyone. They took no prisoners, and only one item. I'm sure you already know what."
"What's your name, kid?"
"...Percivale."
"Percivale, I see. Nice to meet you."
"Anyway, that should be it." The officer stood up, having released Percivale. "I'm Officer Kriegs, and the lovely lady over there is Officer Madeline. Once again, we apologise for keeping you here, but you're free to go now. The Stardale Law Enforcement are focused on tracking down the Night Wolves."
"I'll be heading out now." Kriegs turned to Madeline. "Officer, please escort him outside. Come along to the top floor once you're done. We're having a meeting to discuss the issues with the Feather Shifter."
The mention of the Feather Shifter caught Percivale's attention, his brows furrowing in response. He raised his hand to ask a question, but Kriegs had already left by then. Only Madeline was there.
She clicked her tongue rhythmically. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Haven't changed, have you?"
"umm…"
Her tone screamed as if she had already met Percivale. Subtle hints of frustration gave away her clear disdain of the person in front of her.
On the other hand, Percivale seemed to have not the slightest clue of who the person in front of him was.
"I'm guessing your memories haven't returned to you yet." Madeline sighed. "None the matter. What's important is that you're here, and as such we'll be able to proceed with the First Phase."
"...sorry, what are you talking… about?"
"You don't need to know for now. What you do need to know is that you are very important to Stardale, and Stardale to you."
"Come with me."
Not giving Percivale time to understand the vista that had been drawn in front of him, Madeline took his hand and began dragging him outside.
"Sorry… who are you?"
As they left the police station, Madeline led him to an obscured alley behind the building. Hand stretched over her chest, her knees bent into a bow.
"First Officer Madeline Rigour. Of the Stardale Law Enforcement Agency."
The Stardale Law Enforcement Agency, or S.L.E.A for short, was quite a well known force, even outside of the city it inhabited. It boasted the highest possible arrest percentage, with over ninety percent of criminals being caught within the first twenty four hours.
While many argued that the number was quite achievable for a city of that scale, most of those arguments were shut down upon the mention of Stardale's eternal nighttime.
The S.L.E.A seemed to ring a bell in Percivale's head. He had heard it somewhere before. His mind worked to find out where, but it could not bring up anything above the surface-level knowledge the Academy taught its students in World History.
Still, there was no doubt. Percivale felt that his skills would be put to good use. If he followed Officer Madeline for now, there was a chance that he would be led towards the Feather Shifter in due time.
"In normal circumstances, ordinary civilians wouldn't be allowed anywhere near or into crime investigations."
"However, you are anything but. If you are willing to assist with the investigation, I might be able to pull some strings in order to bring the Feather Shifter within your grasp."
Madeline had made him an offer worthy of consideration. He still did not know why she wanted him to join the S.L.E.A as some sort of honorary policeman, and why she was even willing to give him the light of day.
It definitely wasn't a coincidence that she knew him.
For the Percivale who found it difficult to make the most mundane decisions in life, this was one that held no reason for him to refuse. After all, he was alone. Until he made contact with the club again, there was no way he would be able to finish the mission.
"How about it, Percivale? No, Prince Regulus?"